Don’t know much about it. Garage sale find. It did apparently belong, at one time, to an E. Simmons from Nasell, WA. Never heard of Naselle before this.
It appears to still have quite a bit of the dirt of Naselle preserved in its crevices.
Edit: Corrected spelling of Naselle
The only Ed Simmons I found was buried in Naselle in 1957, but I am guessing that is about when this compass was made...
Item is not super clean, and appears to have water spots or such under the glass. I am assuming he was cruising timber with this (given the location) and probably worked in all weathers. Still has the staff attachment, which is cool.
That Edward Simmons was 80 upon his death in 1957. He probably wasn't mountain climbing much at that point.
That Edward Simmons was 80 upon his death in 1957. He probably wasn't mountain climbing much at that point.
Hey, those Fins are tough people.
I might be wrong about the dating of the compass. They are around, but I didn't find a lot of specific information. It appears they made this type of compass for quite a while.
I've researched this company a bit. I cannot read the writing under the glass. Leupold went through several name changes that narrow down the era of manufacture. Many are unaware the original business was survey instrument repair. They also made flow meters and timber cruising compasses.
Can you post a better pic of the name or the exact spelling and pubctuation?
Very cool
I've researched this company a bit. I cannot read the writing under the glass. Leupold went through several name changes that narrow down the era of manufacture. Many are unaware the original business was survey instrument repair. They also made flow meters and timber cruising compasses.
Can you post a better pic of the name or the exact spelling and pubctuation?
Here are a few pics...I am curious about a few things with this item:
How old is it?
How do you properly use it (perhaps also what was the usual use for it)?
And...it would be interesting to know something about E. Simmons. The guy that sold it to me, E is a relative of his wife. He called him a surveyor, but I haven't found any records with his name on them.
The first example I've seen with the "Leupold" name by itself in that finish is 1957. That is also the first year I've seen the font used on the cardinal labels. The needle matches my mid 30's Leupold & Voelpel, but the vials are 50s/60s.
I'd be very surprised if it were much earlier or later than 57. Very cool find. Thanks for sharing.
https://www.leupold.com/a-living-history
Leupold and Stevens is still in business, going strong, right here in my hometown of Beaverton, Oregon. From their website it looks like they made their first compasses in 1957.
@norman-oklahoma The first sporting compasses are 1957. I have a pristine mid 30s surveying compass with the amended spelling of Voelpel. There are very few earlier examples out there from the early 1900s when they specialized in instrument repair.
